Batman/Spider-Man: Secret Weapon [DEFENDERS OF EARTH BOOK III]

Dead Man's Tragedy

Spawn was positioned on a rooftop overlooking a small neighbourhood in New York when Batman arrived. He ejected from the Batwing's cockpit and glided down to meet him. He landed right behind him, and walked over to him.
"The other subjects?" Spawn asked.
"Some recovered injured, others completely unharmed." Batman replied. "Most perished in the blast, however. Apparently he had half the station rigged to blow since it was manufactured. He certainly had foresight."
"Not enough, clearly." Spawn answered. "Why are you here?"
"To confirm something." He said. "You didn't kill Octavius. It wasn't my pleads, I'm sure of it."
"You said 'confirm'. You already know why."
"I do." He said. "You served in the military for a while- but not before being kicked out for 'irrational and dangerous behaviour'. To make ends meet, you once again went back to killing- as a mercenary for hire. That's how you died. Not killed in a black ops mission. You were killed by one of your comrades mid-mission. That's why you didn't kill him. You didn't want to go down that path again."
Spawn sighed. "I made a mistake." He managed. "I fought, killed, for something at first. There was a greater purpose to it. But when I became a mercenary... there was no greater purpose. It was just killing. I had plenty of time to reflect after being brought back, hiding in alleyways. Killing isn't something I want to resort to again."
Batman let out a small smile. "You made a wise choice, Al." He said. He pointed to the house Spawn was looking at. "That's her house, isn't it? Your wife's?"
"It... yes." Spawn said sadly. "She seems happy now. I shouldn't interrupt that. She deserved so much more than me."
"Maybe." Batman said. "It's your decision whether you should reveal yourself to her or not."
"I... no. She's better off not knowing what I've become." Spawn replied. "Thank you, though. You broke me from the trance that bastard sent me in."
"It's nothing." Batman replied, and the two shook hands. "You know why he had you?"
"I know what's coming, full well."
"Will you fight with us?" Batman asked, pulling his hand away.
"You'd think I'd sit it out?" Spawn remarked. "No. Not in a million years."
"Good." Batman said, turning around and taking out his grappling gun. "Because we're going to need everyone we can get."
He grappled up to the Batwing, and flew off.